FARMERS' UNION.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 May 1910, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

lOXOE AT MARTON. Til 10 LAND BILL. fI'EK I'll ESS ASSOCIATION.] MARTON, May ss4. A Conference of the Farmers' Union branches in the Wellington province opened at Marton to-day, jibolit oO delegates being present. A motion expressing its great sorrow and deep sense of national loss in tiho death of King lOdward VJI. was carried in silence. The President, Mr J. G. Wilson, pointed out- that while Farmers' J I'tihions were more successful in I'arni and grass country, tlio dairy districts did not give support so much as might be expected. Dairy u fanners arc much behind the age. - By joining and working together - they could largely incroaso their profits. He blamed the system of i milking on shares for the want of progress. The output per cow - should ho at least to 2oolbs. Skim t milk sliould bo pasteurised to kill tuberculosis germs. He spoke of the successful season with farmers , in the Wellington province. Prices i for wool had recovered, but prices were disappointing for frozen meat. 1 and of export of beef for which there was a good prospect. ' THE SHEARERS' AWARD. Speaking of the Shearers' Award, he said the agitators' idea was to take fanners in detail, and it was a misnomer to call it an Arbitration Act. It should be named an Act to create strife and interfere with industry. 'I ixo Mutual Insurance Company had a good year, although they had lowered their rates. As soon as sufficient reserve fund had been created tliey would again ho lowered. Speaking of the Land Bill, .Mr Wilson said the Prime Minister had tried to please everybody, and ended by pleasing 'nobody. They would ail look forward with much curiosity to the Bill promised this session. The Union wanted to seo workers in towns and farmers in tho country given the right to get tho freehold. More energy was needed in sett-le-nient of Native land. He expressed regret at seeing such a largo area of need native land lying idle. A VIGOROUS SETTLING POLICY. A vigorous policy of settling these lands would be of great importance to the country. Ho hoped the Native Minister would display more activity than in the past. He denounced the unfair treatment of the State coal mine, because its coal paid no loyalty to the Government or Harbour Hoard, and was sent to depots which paid no rates. Among the remits adopted was one dealing with the system of land valuations. The question caused considerable discussion, and a motion was earried favouring taxation being raised on unimproved value rather than capital value, and that valuations he made provisionally in not less than four year intervals. and that fair and reasonable valuations on improvements he allowed bv valuers. x'oxrous weeds. The Conference adopted a motion urging the necessity of putting into active operation a clause in tho Noxious Weeds Act. prohibiting the sale of chaff oats and all kinds of farm seeds containing noxious weeds seeds.